Reversible brake-beam fulcrum



Nov. 6 i923. L473J1E6 E. A. MAYHEW REVERSIBLE BRAKE BEAM FULCRUM Filed April 4. 1921 Patented Nov. 6, IQZB.,

EDWARD A. MAYHEW, OF CLEVELAND, GEIIG, SSIGNOR T0 THE DAIVIASCUS BRAKE BEAM COMPANY, OF CLEVELANB, GEIQ, A CORFORTION OF OHIO.

REVERSIBLF:V BRAKE-BEAIYI FULCR'UId.V

application tied 'april e, i921.

To cZZ whom t'mafy concern.'

Be it known that I, 'EDWARD A. MAYHEW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Brake-Beam Fulcrums, of which the follow ing is a specification. j This invention relates to a fulcrum for brake beams of the trussed type, the slotted portion of the ulcrum being rotatable about its llongitudinal axis to permit its use in either right or left hand beams.

The types of reversible fulcrums for trussed brake beamsheretofore known have been made up of three or more pieces with the accompanying objection by railroad oliicials that where so many parts are employed in making a reversible strut or fulcrum, the element of strength and rigidity evolved in the strut is weakened by the number of parts involved. The greater the number of parts used the more joints will necessarily be present, thus making as one of the great dangers in the use of the old type of fulcrum, the opening of one or more of the joints and especially that joint Ibetween the slotted portion of the ulcrum and a foot member heretofore secured to the main beam or compression member, to serve as a bearing for the cylindrical extension of the slotted member to permit rotation thereof. In the present invention this objectionable foot member or separate bearing is omitted, thus eliminating any objectionable joint to open at the base of the fulcrum.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a reversible brake beam ulcrum possessing a maximum of strength with a minimum of parts; Jfurther to provide a tulcrum of the class described consisting of but few parts; further to eliminate in reversible fulcrums for trussed brake bean s the objectionable joint heretofore occurring between the inner end of the slotted member and the old form of foot member or bearing on the compression member, by producing a structure in which the foot member or separate bearing is omitted; further to provide novel means for permitting rotation of the slotted member or main body of the fulcrum with relation to the main cross beam or compres sion member of the brake beam; further to generally improve the construction or brake beam fulcrums, further to provide a more Serial No. t58,278.

simple, economical and etlicacious fulcrum of the class described; and such further' objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear.

VMy invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing, and while I have illustrated therein a preferred embodiment, I wish it to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings Fig. l is a plan view of a trussed brake beam including my improved fulcrum.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of my improved fnlycrum, the tension rod and compression member being shown in cross section.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. e is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the slotted portionvof my fulcrum.

Fig, 6 is a section on line 6--6 of Fig. 2.

An important feature of my invention is to provide a reversible 'fulcrnm that has no joint between the reversible part and the bearing on the compression member. A fulcrum is necessarily a strut whichv resists compression at each end, and should be as rigid in construction as possible. Owingto the camber in the compression member, the connection between the fulcrum and the device that clamps it to the compression member must be strong enough to overcome the tension set up by the camber, that tends to pull` the compression member away trom the fulcrum. In all prior designs of reversibleulcrums 0f which I am aware, the compres!- sion clamping member is connected to the movable member by a joint directly behind the end of the lever slot, and when such a form of tulcrum is put under load, the tension occasioned by the camber in the compression member develops a tendency to open up this joint.

In my design the joint is entirely done away with, and the entire body of the ful-- crum, with the exception of the rod seat, is revolved in changing from a right hand to a left hand position. The turning movement from right to left hand is limited by the dimensions of the slot through which the clamp bolt is inserted, as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out, as well'as by the Y tion.

ll l) stops on the stud of the rod seat. lt will l Referring to the drawings, my improved fulcrum is designated generally at F in Fig. 1, and comprises the main body portion or slottedrportion 1, provided with the usual lever receiving slot 2, and is `secured at its inner end by means of clamp 3 to the main cross beam or compression member 4, while at its opposite end it has rotatable connection with the head or rod seat 5, which latter elementl is formed with the usualgroove 6,y to receive the tension rod 7. Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, theslotted portion 1 is provided with the aligned openings 8 for the reception of the fulcrum pin of the brake lever, while at its inner end is formed the journal extension 9, preferably cylindrical in cross section, and which journal eX- tension is seated within the channel 10 in the compression member 4. I do not, however, wish to be limited to this particular form of compression member, since as is obvious the same may be of different cross section', and a non-channelled cross section mightbe used. It is important to note that regardless of the particular form of compression member used the journal extension 9 bears directly against the compression member, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2, and is rotatably held in place therein in the manner now to be described.

Passing around the three sides of compression member 4, and closely fitting the same is the clamp member 3, having sides 11, extending upwardly beyond the edge of the compression member, to form upstanding ends 12 and 13, which are provided with aligned openings to receive bolt 14. rllhe substantially cylindrical portion 15 of the slottedvniember 1, adjacent journal extension 9, asi will be seen in Fig. 4, is formed with Y two openings 16 and 17, paying transversely therethrough, at an angy metal between open/ moved at oppo 'y "ach other, the E17 being re- `\drical por* tion 15, toA 9, passing entirely tb y15, vto permit ro er 1 of' the fulcrum, Xbeing limited by the st the edges of slots 18 a are formed at each of the o kgs 16 and 17, which function, 3jr# tions 12 and 13 of clamp 3 are ,eagainst by tightening the nut o to give additional bearing for the inn v of clamp 3. The rotation of the fulc from a right hand position to a left hand position, or vi-ce versa, can readily be effected seats 2O will not be so great asto necessitate loosening the nut of bolt 14 to permit turning of fulcriiin member 1. Y

To permit a rotative movement between *slotted` member 1 and the rod seat, the latter isprovided with a swivel stud 21, pass-l ing through hole 22, in the outer end of the slotted portion lof the fulcrum, the end of swivel stud 21 being flanged at 23 to prevent withdrawal or disconnection of these parts, but permit of free swivelinovement therebetween.V between these parts, rod seat 5 is provided with integral lugs 24, which move in slots or circular notches 25, formed in the outer end Y of the slotted portion of the fulcrum, such rotation being permitted only until lugs 24 strike vthe ends ofrslolts 25. 1

The cylindrical journal extension 9Y may be provided with a hollow interior space 26,

To limit the amount of Vrotation for the sake of lightness, or may be solid if desired. As seen in Figs. 2 and 4, when the interior hollow space 26-is used, it may extend outwardly to intersect slots 18 and 19, to facilitate movement of the fulcrum in relation to bolt 14. Y'

VlVhile l have illustrated my fulcrum as being of cast formation, it is, of course, understood that the same may be eithermalleable iron, forging, or other suitable material, as desired.

Having now described my invention,

I claim 1. A reversible fulcrum for trussed brake beams, consisting of a relatively movable part and a relatively stationary part, said j parts having means limiting the relative movementV of the parts.

2. In a reversible fulcrum for brake beams, a slotted body member having a journal portion at one .end of the body member for rotatably fit-ting directly against the compression niemberof the brake beam, and a transverse member fastened to said brake beam and connected to said journal portion for limiting the rotation of said body member.

3. In a reversible fulcruin for bra-ke beams, a slotted body portion having a journal at one end for rotatably fitting directly against the compression member ofthe brake beam, Y

and means at its opposite end for rotatably carrying a vrod seat, vsaid means being operable to limit the rotation of said body.

4. ln a. reversible fulcruin for brake beams, a slotted body member having a journalv portion at one end of the body member for rotatably fitting directly against the compression member of the brake beain,and means at the opposite end of the body member for rotatably carrying a rod sea-t, said last mentioned means having means foiI liniiting the amount of rotation of said body member.

iso

6. In combination in a trussed brake beam, a main cross-beam or compression member, a fulcrum having a journal extension at one end entering and rotatably mounted directly on said compression member, and means extending transversely to said extension and viirmly vbut rotatively4 holding said fulcrum journal extension in engagement with said Lcompression member.

7. In combination in a trussed brake beam, a main' cross-beam or compression member, a fulcrum having a journal extension rotatably mounted directly against said crossbeam member, and means connected to the `fulcrum remote from the end of the extension and to the compression member for preventing movement of said journal extension longitudinally orn said cross-beam'or latorally thereof, but permitting rotation of said fulcrum with respect thereto,

8. In combination in a brake-beam, a main cross-beam or compression member, a fulcrum having a journal extension on one end fitting directly against said compression member to rotate with relation thereto, a clam passing around said compression mem er and extending at its ends along a portion of each side of said ulcrum, and means passing through said extending ends and said fulcrum to permit a limited rotation of the latter with respect to said compression member.

9. In combination in a brake-beam, a main cross-beam or compression member, a fulcrum having a journal extension on one end snugly fitting directly against said compression member to rotate with relation thereto, a clamp passing around said cross-beam member and extending at its ends along a portion of each side of said fulcrum, and means passing through said extending ends and said i'ulcrum to permit a limited rotation of the latter with respect to said compression member, said tulcrum having opposed slotted openings beneath said extending ends, said last mentioned means comprising a bolt passing through said ends and said slotted openings.

l0. A brake beam Jfulcrum comprising a slotted body member having a journal extension at one end and a substantially cylindrical portion *formed with intersecting openings passing transversely therethrough, a portion of the metal ot said body member being removed between said openings to form oppositely disposed slots to permit a limited rotary movement of the fulcrum upon a bolt passed through one ot' said lopenings. Y

11. In a trussed bra-ke beam, a cross-beam or compression member, a Julcrum comprising a slotted body portion having a journal extension at one vend thereof and a substantially cylindrical portion between the extension and said body portion and formed with intersecting openings passing transversely therethrough, a portion of the metal of said body portion `being removed between said openings to form oppositely Vdisposed slots to permit a limited rotary movement of the fulcrum upon a bolt passed through one of said openings, and a bolt passing through one of said tranverse openings to rotatably connect the ulcrum to the vcompression member.

l2. In a trussed brake beam, a compression member, a clamp member tightly fitting around said compression member, a fulcrum `having a journal extension rotatably seated against said compressionmember, said fulcrum having a slotted passageway extending from each side through the center, and a bolt passing through said passageway and said clamp member to hold the fulcrum substantially against longitudinal or lateral movement with relation to the compression member, but permitting a rotary movement of the fulcrum.

13. In a trussed brake beam a compression member having a clamp tightly fitting therearound a fulcrum having a ournal extension on one end rotatably seated against said compression member, the fulcrum having a transverse slot therethrough, a bolt passing through ysaid slot and secured to said clamp,

said tulcrum also having an elongated levery receiving slot, a rod seat rotatably mounted in the end of the ulcrum opposite said journal extension, and means to limit the rotary movement of the Jfulcrurn.

14C. A reversible fulcrum comprising a rod seat, a slotted body portion rotatably connected therewith at one end, said body portion having a journal at its opposite end adapted to rotatably seat against a compression member, a clamp, an approximately rounded portion on said body portion adjacent said journal and having openings extending at an angle to each other therethrough, flat lseats at the outer extremities of each of Vsaid openings, the adjacent ends of said openings being connected by slots passing through the'axis of the said body portion, said slots permitting rotational sliding of said body portion on a bolt passed through said openings and securing the journal against the compression. member, and said fiat seats providing additional bearing surface between the fulcrum and said clamp when the bolt is tightened.

15. In a brake beam comprising a compression member, a reversible fulcrum comprising a rod seat, a slotted portion rotatably connected therewith, and means rotatably connecting the slotted portion directly to the vini-ined position during the rotation' of the slotted portion.

Y 16In a reversible ulerum for brake beams, a slotted bodyv member having a. journal portion at one end of the body member for rotatably fitting directly against the compressionmember of the brake beam, and meansy connected to said compression member and said journal and operable to limit the rotation of said body member.

l7. A reversible fulcrum for brakebeams having a compression member, comprisinga slotted strut member,ra journal bearing be-V z; tween one end ofthe strut member and the compression member Vwhereby said strut member may turn about its longitudinal axis, and means l,connectedv to AVthe compression member and the Vstrut member and-eooperablel with the strut member for limiting the `amount of turn of the strut end of the strut member and the compression member whereby the strut member may turn about its longitudinal axis, and a strapemv l bracing the Compression member and cnneeted to the strutmember for limiting the amount of turn of the strut member.A

In Witness whereof, I hereunto sub#V 

